ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14400, 6 July 1912, Page 14

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES

(FROM OTJR OWN CORRESPONDENT). LONDON, May 24. Somebody has tackled Sir Georgo Reid for going to Germany at this inauspicious moment, and giving it out that Australia wishes tho German people to help make Australia. Sir George is accused, practically, of a want of patriotism in making himself so agreeable just at tho present moment, and possibly questions will bo asked at Melbourne. Sir George really does not mind theso things. He broke an international record by giving an address in the Reichstag Building at Berlin, and ho conversed with tho Kaiser at Homburg, so such an v attack is perfectly harmless. To-day ho returned to''England, and to-morrow ho will flit again to the Mediterranean for a holiday. Sir Georgo Reid is notoriously a man who believes in letting his staff do mero office work. Questions every week or so, asked in a furtivo voice from tho floor of tho Commons, indicate that tho Government ( is still "keeping a careful watch" en tho doing of the unarmed militia in the North of Ireland. Mr Birrell reported that a review of the Portadown Unionist Club was held on March 30th, when some of the men carried dummy rifles made of -wood, "something similar to thoso used by the Boys' Brigade," and went through simple squad movements and a march past. The police report received by the Government was to tho effect that after the march past Colonel Fitzgerald and Major Blacker gave short addressesj "which wero inaudible to tho spectators. The Government are keeping a careful watch on all such proceedings, and the War Office has a list of all officers engaged. Hypothetical rebellion on the happening of the passage into law of\a Bill lately introduced appears te stand in a different position to advice intended to lead to immediate action." I am informed to-day that- the May Morn Estates (New Zealand), Ltd., has been fully subscribed to the extent to which capital was sought, namely, £53,000, and that tho directors are now proceeding to allotment. The issue consists of £30,000 5' per cent, first mortgage debenture stock at 95, and 23,000 ordinary £1 shares at par. The May Morn Estate is situated between tho Hutt Valley and Pahautanui, and consists of 18,700 acres which ,when cleared, is estimated to be worth £6 per acre. There is stated to be 200 million superficial feet of timber on the land. Tho "Financial Times' says there would seem to be fair security behind the debenture issue, though there is no positive valuation of tho estate in its present condition, and adds:—j "Tho shares are, of course, quite a speculative venture." The marine artist, the Chevalier Edoardo do Martino, who accompanied the Duke and Duchess of York on their world tour in 1901. has died at tho age of 74 years. Born near Naples, he was educated at the naval college there and fifty years ago entered the Italian Navy. 4ftcr leaving the service, he went to Brazil, married a Brazilian lady and became attached to tho court of Dom Pedro, for whom he made many sketches. Before this ho had done much sketching during a war in Paraguay. He came to England in 1875. and*, being highly favoured by Queen Victoria, he also received the patronage of the Kaiser. He accompanied the present King on H.M.S. Crescent before the Royal tour. The Chevalier was not of sufficient rank as a Dainter to be oleeied to the Royal Academy, but ho received the decoration of C.V.O. in 1893.